Ice cube tray and grid



July 6, 1948. D. H. REEvEs ICE CUBE TRAY 5ND GRID- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 27, 1936 m f a J t a z t Y a! 7 4 all 4..\

Is /S ATTORNEYS.

s E v E E R H n ICE CUBE TRAY AND GRID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27.1936 V lNvoR. pan/AM. a M E5 M3.

H/s ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 6, 1948 ICE CUBE TRAY AND GRID Donald H. Reeves, Dayton,Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application August 27, 1936, Serial No. 98,213

(Cl. BB-108.5)

This invention relates to freezing apparatus for liquids such as icetrays employed in mechanically refrigerated household refrigeratorcabinets.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedgrid construction adapted to be disposed in an ice tray for dividing thetray into a plurality of ice block compartments and a novel method ofremoving ice blocks from the tray and grid without application ofartificial heat, thereto. V

Another object of the present invention is to provide a freezing traywith a removable single walled metallic grid structure having certainwalls thereof readily movable lengthwise of certain other walls thereoffor breaking the bond between ice blocks in the grid and the grid wallsto thereby release the blocks therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single walled gridstructure for disposition in an ice tray and having a mechanismassociated therewith which will separate the grid together with iceblocks adhering thereto from the tray and which will also be effectiveto move certain of the grid walls relative to certain other wallsthereof progressively from one portion to another portion along thelength of the grid structure for dislodging ice blocks consecutivelyfrom the structure after its separation from the tray.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means fordirecting a force against ice blocks within the grid structureprogressively from one end to the other end of the structure whereby anydesired number of ice blocks may be removed therefrom without moving andloosening other blocks therein to thereby permit the grid structuretogether with the other blocks adhering thereto to be replaced in thetray and the tray repositioned on or in a cooling element for futureharvesting of the remaining ice blocks.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object ofthe invention to provide a single walled metallic grid structure for anice tray which is simple in construction, durable and eflicientinoperation and novel combinations of parts of which, as more fully becomeapparent .from the following description, will present other I line l4of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2showing a toggle connection between parts of the grid structure;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of the grid showing a certain wallthereof moved relative to other walls thereof for releasing ice blockstherefrom; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the position of walls of thegrid structure after having been moved to release all ice blockstherefrom.

In order to illustrate the present invention I i have shown in Figs. 1to 4 inclusive of the drawings a metal ice tray it having side walls H(see Fig. 4) and opposed end walls I2 and H3. The tray side walls I l'and the front end wall I! thereof converge outwardly toward the top ofthe tray. The back wall l3 of tray Ill may be converged outwardly towardthe tray top a greater distance than other walls of the tray for apurpose which will become apparent hereinafter. The walls ll, i2 and I3of tray ill have their top edge rolled over to form a rim M whichextends continuously around the tray. The metal of tray i0 is extendeddownwardly from the rim It as at 16 at the front end thereof to providea mounting sur-- face for a heavy metal piece I! which has a handlepivotally secured thereto. The handle l8 facilitates placing of the trayIll in or on a cooling element of a refrigerating system and a camsurface I9 formed thereon functions, upon actuating the handle iii, tobreak an ice bond between the tray l0 and its support in or on thecooling element to permit removal of the tray therefrom as is well knownin the art.

, A unitary grid-structure, generally represented by the referencecharacter 20, is disposed within tray ill for dividing the interiorthereof into a plurality of open-top molds, cells or compartments 2|.The grid structure 20 includes a vertically disposed singleiongitudinalwall 22 having a plurality of slots or openings 23 therein (see Fig. 2)for the reception of the part2! (see Fig.

4) of single walls 2! which intersect the wall 22 and extendtransversely thereto. The transverse walls 25 are cut out as at 28 (seeFig. 4) to fit over the continuous part of the longitudinal wall 22disposed below the slots 23. In order to movably or slidably secure thetransverse walls 25 to the longitudinal wall 22 or to the grid structure20 I place an elongated metal member 28, which is U-shaped incross-section, over the top of the longitudinal wall 22. Member 28 isslidably attached to the wall 22 by a pair of pins 29 which pass throughhorizontally elongated holes 3| provided in the upper portion of wall 22and which pins pass through and are riveted or otherwise rigidlyfastened to the leg portions of the U-shaped member 28 (see Figs. and6). It will be noted that each of the transverse walls 25 has anupwardly extending car 33 formed thereon above raised shoulderedportions 34 (see Fig. 4) provided above the central continuous part 24thereof. The ear 33 of each wall 25 fits into the U-shaped member 28between the leg portions thereof. Member 28 is provided with a pluralityof corresponding and aligned pairs of notches 38 cut in the dependingleg portions thereof and which notches receive the raised shoulderedportions 34 of walls 25. The single transverse walls 25 are each therebylocked to the grid structure between the U-shaped member 28 and thecontinuous portion of the longitudinal wall 22 but are freely movablelengthwise of wall 22 by being slidably mounted in the openings 23provided therein. A means for moving the member 28 relative to andlengthwise of the wall 22 to cause engagement of walls of the notches 36with the raised shouldered portions 34 formed on the walls is provided.This means comprises a lever 4| pivotally secured to the grid structure20 by a, pin 42 which passes through the longitudinal wall 22 thereof(see Fig. 5). is U-shaped in cross-section and is adapted to fit over orstraddle the U-shaped member 28 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.Lever 4| also includes a handle end portion 43 and an opposite endportion 44 which extends over the rim l4 of tray ID at the back of thetray. The depending leg portions of the end part 44 of lever 4| aremounted so as to clear the rim H of tray l0 when the and structure 20 ispositioned within the tray as shown in Fig. 2 and so as to providea camadapted to engage the rim H of the tray when the lever 4| is operatedfor a purpose to be presently described. The pivot pin 42 is disposed ona plane slightly above the plane in which the pins 29 are located. Apair of arms or links 46 have their one end attached tothe pin 28,disposed at the lever end of the structure, and each arm or link 46 islocated between the longitudinal grid wall 22 and the depending legportions of member 28 (see Fig. 5). The other ends of arms or linlm 46are secured by a pin 41 to the lever 4i ata point inwardly of pin 42.Arms or links 46 have a portion of their bottom edge cut away as at 48so as to permit movement of the arms around the pin 42 during operationof lever 4|. The top portion of the longitudinal wall 22 is cut away asat 43. adjacent the part thereof through which pin 42 passes. so as toafford clearance for travel of pin 41 toward the wall 22 when moving thelever 4| to normal position. It is to be noted that the point ofattachment of pin 41 to lever 4|. is slightly below the point ofattachment of pin 42 thereof so as to position the pin 41 below astraight line drawn The lever 4| has a portion thereof which throughpins 42 and 23 when the lever 4| is in its normal position shown in Fig.2 thereby forming a toggle mechanism.

It will he noted in observing the structure disclosed that the openingsor slots 23 provided in the longitudinal grid wall 22 are of diflerentwidths relative to one another and that certain of the walls of theseopenings, disposed toward the lever end of the grid structure, are cutat an angle relative to the opposite walls'thereof. The purpose of thisdifference in the widths of openings 23 and the provision of the oneangled wall thereof will become apparent from the description of theoperation of the structure. It should also be observed that one wall ofone notch 36, provided in member 28, is equally spaced from thecorresponding wall of other of the notches but that the opposed wall ofthe one notch 361s spaced 2. different distance away from thecorresponding opposed wall of other of the notches. This difference inspacing of the walls of notches 36 provides relatively narrow notches atthe lever and of the grid structure and successively wider notchestoward the front end of the grid to thus cooperate with the differencein the widths of openings 23 relative to one another for a purpose to behereinafter apparent. When the parts of the grid structure described arein a normal position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the lever4| lying parallel with and against member 28, it will be noted that thecorresponding and equally spaced apart walls of notches 36 are abuttingthe transverse grid walls 25 to hold same in a vertical position withinthe openings or slots 23 and against the straight corresponding andequally spaced apart walls thereof.

Assuming that water has been frozen in the tray In in the form of blocks5| in compartments 2 I, by the cooling effect produced by a coolingelement of a refrigerating system, and the tray handle has beenmanipulated to remove the tray from the cooling element and it is nowdesired to bar-- vest the ice blocks 5|, the handle end 43 of lever 4|is elevated to cause the lever to pivot about the pin 42 and to therebycause the cam end 44 thereof to engage and exert a force against the rimll of tray l0. Force applied to tray ill in this manner causes the gridstructure 20, together with the ice blocks 5| adhering thereto, to beelevated relative to the tray as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Thebond between the ice blocks 5| and the tray I8 thus having been brokenthe grid structure and ice blocks adhering thereto can then be readilyremoved from the tray. During manipulation of lever 4| to break the bondbetween the ice and tray ill and to elevate same relative to the traythe U-shaped member 28 has been moved toward the lever end of the gridstructure without engaging any of the transverse grid walls 25 due tothe elongation of notches 38. However, further movement of lever 4|,after the grid has been removed from the tray, causes elevation orrotation of the pivotpin 41 about the pin 42 and movement of arms 46toward the rear end of the iongitudinal wall 22 of the grid structure.This further movement of lever 4| causes the wall of theone notch 38adjacent the lever and of the structure 20 to engage and move thetransverse grid wall 25 disposed therein lengthwise of wall 22. Thetransverse grid walls 25 are preferably of a highly tempered metal so asto be somewhat elastic or capable of springing back to their normal po--sition after having been slightly deformed by force applied thereto.Thus initial force applied to the central portion '26 or walls 25 bymovement of member 28 causes thesewalls to bow intermediate their endsprior to being forced lengthwise oi the longitudinal grid wall 22. Thisinitial movementor bowing of walls 25 thereby substantially peels sameaway from the adjacent ice blocks Iii. After walls 25 are freed from theice blocks 5i by the bowing action thereof they then spring back totheir normal straight position and continued force applied theretobegins the lengthwise or tilting movement thereof relative to wall 22.Upon moving the endtransverse grid wall 25 lengthwise of thelongitudinal wall 22 in the manner described the portion adjacent thebottom edge of wall 25 fulcrums about the lower part of the second fromthe end pair of ice blocks 68 and is tilted. The end pair of ice blocksreceives the force near the top portions thereof and movement of the endtransverse grid wall causes the end blocks to move lengthwise of thelongitudinal grid wall 22. Movement of the end ice blocks El in thismanner to break the bond between same and the grid wall 22 causes theice, formed integral with each end block and disposed in the'openings orslots 23 of the longitudinal wall 22, to crack thus separating the endpair of blocks from one another and permitting same to freely fall fromthe grid structure. If two ice blocks only are desired for immediate usemovement of lever ll is discontinued and this lever may be moved back toits normal position as shown in Fig; 2, and the grid structure 20together with the ice blocks 56 remaining therein can be replaced intray iii and the tray with its frozen contents repositioned in or on thecooling element until future harvesting of the remaining ice blocks isrequired. However,

d interfere with movement of the next wall 25 and removal of the secondpair of ice blocks M. It is believed that a description of theindividual success'ive movement of each transverse wall is unnecessaryand that it is obvious that force applied directly to each wall 25progressi ely from the lever end to the other end of the grid structure20 will release the ice blocks 5| therefrom in succession. .I have foundthat in addition to applying force directly and progressively to-thewalls in such a structure that it is also desirable to I provide apositive movement of the end pair of if more than the end pair of iceblocks are desired or required for immediate use continued movement oflever 6| in a counter-clockwise direction then causes the one wall ofthe second notch 3%, from the lever end of the structure 20, to engageand move the second transverse wall 2% lengthwise of the longitudinalgrid wall 22. It being understood, of course, that the diiTerencebetweenthe widths of the plurality of notches 36 permits engagement of awall of the first notch with the first transverse grid wall to movesame, upon movement of lever ll and member 28, but does notcause'engagement of the wall of the next notch 36 with the second fromend transverse wall 25 to move same. In other words, the walls ofnotches 33 are so spaced relative to one another that these wallsprogressively engage their respective transverse walls 25 fitted thereinupon movement of member 28 toward the lever end of the grid structure.Thus the second transverse wall 25 from the lever end of the structure20 is moved relative to the longitudinal wall 22 after movement of thefirst or end transverse'wall and upon a continued The fulcruming of thesecond from the lever end -transverse wall 25 and loosening of thesecond ice blocks located remote from the lever end of the structure 20relative to the longitudinal wall 22. Therefore the bottom of opening 23at the end opposite the lever end of the structure 22 is intentionallymade very narrow to permit a slight lengthwise initial movement only ofthe end transverse wall 25 relative to wall 22 and to cause furthermovement thereof to tilt this wall at an angle. This positive tiltingaction of the end wall 25 opposite the lever end of structure 22 causesthe lower portion thereof to apply force to the end pair of ice blockswhich tilts same upwardly within their respective compartments andrelative to the longitudinal wall 22 to thus break the bond between theend blocks and the longitudinal wall after the end wall 25 has beenbroken therefrom to permit the end ice blocks 5i to freely fall from thegrid structure as disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The application of force directly to each transverse wall 25 to causeprogressive movement of these walls relative to the longitudinal wall 22to successively remove ice blocks at from the grid structure 20 may bediscontinued at any point along the length of the structure 20, afterthe required number ofice blocks have been removed therefrom, to permitthe grid together with the number of ice blocks reniaining therein to berepositioned in the tray l0 and the tray replaced in or on the coolingelement until such time as the ice blocks remaining in the gridstructure are desired to be harvested. After all of the ice blocks 5ihave been removed from grid structure 20, as shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings, the lever M is moved back into its normal position disclosedin'Fig. 2 to thereby cause the pair of ice blocks 5! from the grid wallsis similar to that described relative to the first or end transversewall and the end pair of ice blocks. It is to be noted that thelengthwise movement and tilting of the first or end wall 25 causes sameto be peeled away from the second pair of ice blocks 5! and that, afterthe first or end pair of blocks fall from the grid structure, end wall 25 is freely movable within notch 36 and opening 23 so as not tocorresponding and evenly spaced apart walls of notches 38 to engage andmove each of the transverse walls 25 to its normal compartment formingposition. The grid structure is then placed in tray i6 and the tray andcompartments 2! filled with water to be frozen in order to repeat theharvesting of ice blocks from the tray in the manner described.

When lever 4! is moved to its normal position shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, the pin 61, to which the one end of arms 46 are secured, movesdownwardly beyond the plane of a line extended through pin 42 and thepin 29 disposed at the lever end of the grid structure 20. In otherwords, the lever M when in the position disclosed in Fig. 2 is in anover-center position and the parts associated therewith form a, togglemechanism. I provide a close fit between the pivot points 29, 42, M andarms 36 and the toggle mechanism tends to maintain lever 41 in itsnormal position to prevent same from being accidentally raised to aposition whereby the handle end 53 thereof would interfere with removalof the tray from superimposed freezing compartrator. This toggle actionalso locks the trans- 7 verse walls into their proper positions inrelation to the longitudinal wall.

While I have shown the grid structure 20 as being removed from the trayl prior to manipulating lever ll to release the ice blocks from thestructure 20 in the present disclosure, it is to be understood thatwalls of the grid structure may be moved while the structure 20 is inthe elevated position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings as disclosed in mycopendlng application Serial No. 87,263, filed June 25, 1936. While thestructure is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 3 and stillmaintained within the confines of the tray it may be operated in themanner described to break the bond between all the ice blocks and thegrid walls, due to the clearance afforded at the one end of the'tray, tothereby permit the'ice blocks to fall into and remain in the tray duringremoval of the grid structure upwardly and out of tray ll. Thusharvesting of the ice blocks 5| from tray ll may be obtained if desired.Due to the quick releasing action of the device disclosed the ice blocksdo not melt during manipulation of the device and when they arepermitted to remain in the tray, upon removal of the grid from the trayand ice therein, the ice blocks do not stick or bond to one another whenpositioned in the tray and replaced in or on the cooling element.Therefore the ice blocks can be readily and individually removed fromthe tray when the tray is pulled outwardly of the cooling element.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an improveddevice which is of low cost, durable, eiiicient in operation andeffective to remove ice cubes or blocks therefrom without shattering theblocks and which device is constructed entirely of metal to therebyretain the fast freezing characteristics of metal tray and gridcombinations. The improved grid structure is of a single wall type andthe walls thereof do not therefore occupy valuable space within the trayand reduce its cubical capacity. The improved construction of the gridand the method of moving the transverse'walls relative to thelongitudinal wall thereof is such that only a force sufficient torelease two ice blocks therefrom is required during the entireprogressive,

operation to release all of the blocks. Thus ob- J'ections to priordevices wherein utmost effort is required to exert sufficient force toeffect release of the ice blocks has been overcome in my improved deviceand release of ice blocks therefrom can be readily effected by thehousewife without difiiculty. Single pairs or a plurality of pairs ofice blocks can be removed from my improved device as desired while Ihave at the same time provided for the repositioning of the grid,together with ice blocks permitted to remain therein, into the tray andthe replacement of the contents of the tray in or on the cooling elementfor future harvesting of the remainder of the ice blocks therefrom. Inthe construction disclosed I have provided a single lever which isoperable, in the same direction and with a single continued motion, tocarry out two functions in the harvesting of blocks of ice from a trayin which they are frozen.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a trahaving a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structureincluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation alongthe length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into aplurality of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being movablyattached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structuretogether with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, andmeans for en-' gaging and applying force to each of said transversewalls to cause movement thereof lengthwise of said longitudinal wall tobreak the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

2. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a trayhaving a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structureincluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation alongthe length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into aplurality of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being movablyattached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structuretogether with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, andmeans for engaging and applying force to each of said transverse wallsto cause movement thereof relative to said longitudinal wallprogressively from one portion to another portion of said structure tobreak the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

3. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a trayhaving a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structureincluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation alongthe length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into aplurality of ice block compartments, said transverse walls being movablyattached to said grid structure, means for elevating said grid structuretogether with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, andmeans for engaging and applying force to each of said transverse wallsto cause movement thereof lengthwise of said longitudinal wallprogressively from one end to the other end of said structure to breakthe bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

4. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to befrozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having alongitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing theinterior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, means carried bysaid grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against the trayto thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adhering theretorelative to the tray, and means associated with and operable by saidfirst named means for engaging and moving each of said transverse wallslengthwise of the longitudinal wall to thereby release the frozensubstance from the grid.

5. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to befrozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having alongitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing theinterior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, means carried bysaid grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against the trayto thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adhering theretorelative to the tray, and means associated with and operable by saidfirst named means for enmovably disposed therein, said grid structureincluding a vertically disposed longitudinal wall and a plurality ofvertically disposed single walls extending transversely to saidlongitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof anddividing the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, saidsingle transverse walls being movably attached to said grid structure,means for elevating said grid structure together with ice blocksadhering thereto relative to the tray,- and means for moving saidtransverse walls relative to said longitudinal wall progressively fromone portion to another portion of said grid structure to break the bondbetween the ice blocks and said grid walls.

7. In a device of the character described, a continuous one-piece rigidlongitudinal wall and a plurality of spaced apart walls extendingtransversely to and along the length of said longitudinal wall, saidwalls defining rows of compartments on each side of said longitudinalwall, said transverse walls being mounted for sliding movement relativeto said longitudinal wall, and an element for engaging and sliding saidtransverse walls lengthwise of said longitudinal wall.

8. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to befrozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in. the tray and havinga longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividing theinterior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, a lever carriedby said grid and disposed in a position to exert a force against thetray to thereby move the grid together with frozen substance adheringthereto relative to the tray, means associated withand operable by saidlever for engaging and moving each of said transverse walls relative tothe longitudinal wall progressively from one end to the other end of thegrid structure to thereby release the frozen substance therefrom, and atoggle connection between said lever and said means for holding thelever in its normal non-operative position.

9. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to befrozen, of a grid struc- \ture normally positioned in the tray andhaving a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls dividingthe interior of the tray into a plurality of compartments, a levercarried by said grid and disposed in a position to exert a force againstthe tray to thereby move the grid together with frozen substanceadhering thereto relative to the tray, means associated with andoperable by said lever for engaging and moving each of said transversewalls lengthwise of the longitudinal wall of the grid structure tothereby release the frozen substance therefrom, and a toggle connectionbetween said lever and said means for holding the lever in its normalnon-operative position.

10. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a trayhaving a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structureincluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation alongthe lengtn thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into aplurality of ice block compartments, means 10 for elevating said gridstructure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to thetray, means traversing all of said transverse walls and being engageabletherewith to movably secure same to said grid structure, and meansconnecting said two means together whereby operation of said first namedmeans actuates said second named means to move said transverse wallsrelative to said longitudinal wall progressively from one end to theother end of said grid structure to break thenbond between the iceblocks and said grid wa s.

11. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a trayhaving a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structureineluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation alongthe length thereof and dividing the interior of the tray into aplurality of ice block compartments, means for elevating said gridstructure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to thetray, means lying over said longitudinal wall and having a portionthereof engageable with each of said transverse walls adjacent the pointof intersection of said walls for movably securing the transverse wallsto the grid structure, and means connecting said two means togetherwhereby operation of said first named means actuates said second namedmeans to move said transverse walls lengthwise of said longitudinal wallof said grid structure to break the bond between the ice blocks and said*grld walls.

12. A freezing apparatus for liquids comprising in combination, a trayhaving a grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structureincluding a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extendingtransversely to said longitudinal wall in-spaced apart relation alongthe length there-' of and dividing the interior of the tray. into aplurality of ice block compartments, means for elevating said gridstructure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to thetray, means lying over said longitudinal wall and having a portionthereof engageable with each of said transverse walls adjacent the pointof intersection of said walls for movably securing the transverse wallsto the grid structure, and means connecting said two means togetherwhereby operation of said first named means actuates said'second namedmeans to move said transverse walls relative to said longitudinal wallprogressively from one end to the other end of said grid structure tobreak the bond between the ice blocks and said grid walls.

13. The combination with a tray of aunitary grid structure normallypositioned in the tray and having a plurality of interlocked walls ofsingle thickness dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality ofice block compartments, certain of said grid walls being movablerelative to another wall thereof, a lever having a single direction ofmotion carried 'byv said grid structure, and means cooperating with saidlever for engaging and moving certain of the movable walls of saidunitary grid structure in succession relative to said another 'wallthereof to release ice blocks from the grid.

14. The combination with a tray adapted to contain a substance to befrozen, of a grid structure normally positioned in the tray and having aplurality of walls dividing the interior of the tray into rows ofcompartments, certain of said grid walls being movable relative toanother. wall thereof, and a lever having a. single direction of motioncarried by said grid structure for elevating the grid together withfrozen substance adhering thereto relative to the tray and for movingthe movable walls of said grid structure lengthwise of the other wallthereof to release the frozen substance from the gridafter same has beenelevated relative to the tray.

15. In a device of the character described, a partition extendinglongitudinally of the device ,and a plurality of spaced apart partitionsextending transversely to and along the length of said longitudinalpartition, said transverse partitions forming walls of compartments oneach side of said longitudinal partition, said transverse partitionsbeing mounted for sliding movement relative to said longitudinalpartition, and an element for engaging, progressively from one end tothe other end of the device, and imparting a sliding movement to saidtransverse partitions lengthwise of said longitudinal partition.

16. In a device of the character described, a mold element comprising asupporting member and a plurality of transverse members mounted forlce-dislodging movement thereon, and leveractuated mechanism forimparting ice-dislodging movement to the plurality of members and actingthereon to hold the same against relative movement in theinactiveposition of the lever.

17. A metallic unitary grid structure for disposition in a freezing trayand removabletherefrom as a unit, said grid structure including asubstantially inflexible metal longitudinal partition wall and aplurality of separate substantially inflexible metallic cross wallsspaced lengthwise alon said longitudinal wall, said cross walls beingmovably mounted upon and interlocked with the longitudinal wall andextending continuously in a straight line plane on both sides of saidlongitudinal wall through the plane of said longitudinal wall, saidcross walls and said longitudinal wall cooperating with each other toform a plurality of the grid structure, said last named means in-'cluding means having a portion engaging and moving a wall of each iceblock compartment relative to the remaining walls of each compartment,said movement taking place progressively along the length of saidlongitudinal wall strucice block compartments on opposite sides of saidlongitudinal wall, said mounting of the cross walls on said longitudinalwall permitting movement of said cross walls in a direction lengthwiseof said longitudinal wall, and means carried by the grid structure formoving the cross walls lengthwise of the longitudinal wall.

18. The combination including an ice tray, a removable grid positionedtherein, said grid including a substantially inflexible metal longitudinal partition and a plurality of substantially inflexible cross wallsloosely mounted upon and interlocked with the longitudinal partition,said cross walls being spaced along the length Of the longitudinalpartition and said cross walls extending continuously in a straight lineplane on both sides of said longitudinal partition through the plane ofthe longitudinal partition to form a row of ice cube compartments oneither side of said longitudinal partition, and means carried by thegrid structure for elevating the grid together with the ice adheringthereto relative to the tray and for moving the movable walls of saidgrid structure relative to the longitudinal partition wall to releasethe ice from the grid after the grid and ice have been elevated relativeto the tray, said last named means including an operating handle movablein the same direction to both elevate the grid and ice from the tray andto release the ice from the grid.

19. A metallic grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray andremovable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising alongitudinal wall structure and a plurality of separate ture.

20. A grid for an ice tray including a substantially inflexible metallongitudinal wall structure including a lower partition member and anupper operating member movable relative thereto, a plurality ofsubstantially inflexible metal cross walls loosely mounted upon andinterlocked with said longitudinal wall structure, said cross wallsbeing spaced lengthwise along said longitudinal wall structure andextending continuously on both sides of said longitudinal. wallstructure through the plane thereof to form a row of ice cubecompartments on either side of the longitudinal wall structure, saidupper operating member having formed therein a plurality of slotsembracing the upper edges of said cross members, means for moving saidoperating member relative to and lengthwise of said lower partitionmember to cause the side walls of the notches to engage and move saidcross walls lengthwise of said lower partition member, said last namedmeans including an operating handle carried by the said grid.

21. A grid for an ice tray including a substantiall inflexible metallongitudinal wall structure including a lower partition member and anupper operating member movable relative thereto, a plurality ofsubstantially inflexible metal cross walls loosely mounted upon andinterlocked with said longitudinal wall structure, said cross wallsbeing spaced lengthwise along said longitudinal wall structure andextending continuously on both sides of said longitudinal wall structurethrough the plane thereof to form a row of ice cube compartments oneither side of the longitudinal wall structure, said upper operatingmember having formed therein a plurality of slots embracing the upperedges of said cross members, the width of said slots increasing from endto end of the operating member, means for moving said operating memberrelative to and lengthwise of said lower partition member to cause theside walls or the notches to progressively engage and progressively movesaid cross walls lengthwise of said lower partition member, said lastnamed means including an operating handle carried by the said grid.

22. An ice cube tray organization including a tray and a grid removablydisposed therein, said grid comprising a longitudinal member composed.of a plurality of relatively movable longitudinal sections lying insubstantially the same vertical plane and a series of spacedsubstantially rigid transverse fins mounted in slots on a longitudinalsection but loose with respect to all of said sections and so associatedtherewith that said fins may move pivotally with relation to all of tionof a tray, a grid within the tray for dividing said tray into aplurality of cells for forming ice cubes, said grid including alongitudinally extending divider member having a plurality of notchesformed along one of the horizontally positioned edges thereof, aplurality of transverse dividers each having a portion extending in anotch of the longitudinal divider and portions extending on oppositesides of said longitudinal divider but spaced therefrom to permitrelative movement between the longitudinal and transverse dividers, andmeans adapted for engaging the upper portion of the transverse dividersfor moving same longitudinally to the longitudinal divider by tiltingthe upper portion of the transverse divider toward the cube adheredthereto to free the cube therefrom. a

'24. A unitary grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray andremovable therefrom' as ,a unit, said grid structure comprising asubstantially non-flexible longitudinal wall member and a plurality ofsubstantially non-flexible wall members extending laterally from saidlongitudinal wall member and being interlocked therewith to form aplurality of ice block compartments, means for moving said laterallyextending walls lengthwise of said longitudinal wall, .and said meansbeing so constructed and arranged as to prevent initial simultaneousmovement of said laterally extending walls and to cause said move-. mentthereof to be progressive from one portion to another portion of saidunitary structure.

25. A grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removabletherefrom as a unit, said unitary grid structure comprising a wallextending longitudinally of a tray and a plurality of walls carried byand extending transversely of said longitudinal wall to form within thetray rows of ice block compartments, and a longitudinally extendingmember longitudinally slldable and carried by the upper portion of saidunitary removable grid for breaking a bon between ice blocks and thecompartment walls.

26. A grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removabletherefrom as a unit, said unitary grid structure comprising a wallextending longitudinally of a tray and a plurality of walls carried byand extending transversely of said longitudinal wall to form within thetray rows of ice block compartments, and a member carried by the upperportion of said longitudinal wall and longitudinall slidable therealongfor breaking a bond between ice blocks and the compartment walls.

2'7. A unitary grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray andremovable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising alongitudinal wall member and a plurality of spaced apart separate andindependent one-piece transverse wall members extending through theplane of said longitudinal wall member and being movably interlockedtherewith to form a permanent unitary grid structure providing rows ofice block compartments, and mechanism for moving said transverse wallmembers relative to and in a direction paralleling the extension of saidlongitudinal wall member, said mechanism including means for moving saidtransverse wall members one by one in succession from a portion toanother portion of said unitary structure.

DONALD H. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

